Support system for frame of vehicular cargo net

ABSTRACT

A cargo-net frame is supported on a cover of a motor vehicle trunk by two different supports each having a body fitted through the covering and having an outer portion formed with an annular outwardly projecting shoulder bearing inward against an outer face of the covering and an inner portion formed as a clip spaced from the shoulder by a distance equal generally to the covering thickness and bearing outward on an inner face of the covering. One of the bodies is tubular and receives an end of the net-frame element. The other body is formed with a laterally open eye in which the element is elastically retained.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the US national phase of PCT applicationPCT/EP03/03648, filed 9 Apr. 2003, published 4 Dec. 2004 as WO03/099615, and claiming the priority of German patent application20208280.6 itself filed 27 May 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a holding element for mounting metal framenets, especially lateral trunk nets, which comprises a snap-in device,an annular shoulder and a fixing element that can be engaged with themetal frame of the metal frame net for fixing it in place.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The increased use of nets in motor vehicles and other comparablevehicles is associated with problems in that these nets, which are oftenmetal frame nets, have to be affixed in a suitable manner to thesections of walls, seat backs etc., which sections have been providedfor them.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is thus the object of the invention to create a holding element foraffixing metal frame nets that makes it possible to economically andreliably affix a metal frame net, in particular a lateral trunk net, toa trunk floor covering or trunk wall covering.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, this object is met in that the distancebetween the snap-in device and the annular shoulder correspondsapproximately to the thickness of the trunk floor covering or trunk wallcovering to which the holding element can be affixed by means of thesnap-in device. This results in reliable fixing of the holding elementto the trunk floor covering or trunk wall covering which leads to acorrespondingly reliable fixing of the metal frame net at the desiredlocation. The holding elements according to the invention can either besupplied as components of the metal frame net, or they can bepreinstalled at the desired locations. In the latter case, for thepurpose of installation, the metal frame net simply has to be made toengage the respective fixing element of the holding element. The holdingelements can be affixed at any desired locations on the trunk floorcovering or trunk wall covering.

Advantageously, the snap-in device is formed by at least two clipcatches which are preferably diametrically opposed to each other,wherein the clip catches are sprung components on the holding elementand in their released position jam the trunk floor covering or trunkwall covering between themselves and the annular shoulder. As is thecase with the annular shoulder, the clip catches in their released stateprotrude beyond the external circumference of the section of the holdingeye, from which section the clip catches are formed so that the trunkfloor covering or trunk wall covering can be affixed or jammed betweenthe distal ends of the clip catches, which distal ends are locatedopposite the annular shoulder, and the annular shoulder.

If the holding element is to serve as a lower holding element, it isadvantageous if the fixing element of the holding element is a holdingeye comprising a casing mouth into which a section of the metal frame ofthe metal frame net can be clipped in.

If the holding element is to serve as an upper holding element, thefixing element of the holding element advantageously is a plug-inreceptacle into which a plug-in section of the metal frame of the metalframe net can be plugged in.

Especially plastic, preferably Ultramid B3S, has shown to beparticularly advantageous as a material for the holding element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Below, embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail withreference to the drawings. The following are shown:

FIG. 1 a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a holding elementaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 a section view, rotated by 90 degrees, of the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, of the holding element according to the invention;

FIG. 3 a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the holding elementaccording to the invention;

FIG. 4 a section view, rotated by 90 degrees, of the embodiment shown inFIG. 3, of the holding element according to the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a small scale sectional view illustrating use of the twoholding elements in accordance with the invention.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

An embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of a holding element 1 according tothe invention is used to affix a metal frame net, in particular alateral trunk net, to a trunk floor or wall covering C of predeterminedthickness T. The holding element shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises asnap-in device 2, which in the embodiment shown is formed by two clipcatches 3 and 4. In the embodiment shown, the two clip catches 3 and 4are made in one piece together with the holding element 1 and—due to theelasticity of the material from which the holding element 1 is made—canengage in spring action, around their proximal ends, in relation to theremaining holding element 1. The two clip catches 3 and 4 are arrangedso as to be diametrically opposed at the circumference of the holdingelement 1. They taper from their proximal to their distal ends, withthese ends protruding in their released state beyond the externalcircumference on the section of the holding element 1, which sectionforms the clip catches 3 and 4.

Furthermore, the holding element 1 comprises a radially protrudingannular shoulder 5 that is opposite to the free distal ends of the clipcatches 3 and 4 of the snap-in device 2.

The distance between the underside of the annular shoulder 5 that islocated opposite the clip catches 3 and 4 on the one hand and the freedistal ends of the clip catches 3 and 4 on the other hand, approximatelycorresponds to the thickness T of the trunk floor or wall covering C sothat this covering C can be jammed between the clip catches 3 and 4 andthe annular shoulder 5.

If the holding element 1 is forced through the trunk floor or wallcovering C, due to the elasticity of the material from which the holdingelement 1 is made, the clip catches 3 and 4 spring radially inward, andthen immediately spring back to their released position, shown in FIG.1, as soon as the clip catches 3 and 4 have been completely pushedthrough the trunk floor or wall covering C. As soon as this hashappened, the trunk floor or wall covering C is jammed between thedistal ends of the clip catches-3 and 4 and the underside of the annularshoulder 5. The holding element 1 is now in its affixed position.

For the purpose of affixing a section of the metal frame F of the metalframe net, the holding element 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises aholding bush or eye 6 that forms a cylindrical receptacle for a sectionof the metal frame F. This cylindrical receptacle is accessible via alaterally open mouth slot 7 in the holding eye 6. The holding eye 6 isarranged on the face of the annular shoulder 5 that is directed from theclip catches 3 and 4. The casing mouth 7 is arranged directly above theannular shoulder 5. The width of the casing mouth 7 is somewhat narrowerthan the diameter of the metal frame F of the metal frame net so thatthe metal frame F is fixed within the holding eye-6 after it has beenpushed into the cylindrical receptacle of the holding eye 6, takingadvantage of the elastic characteristics of the material which forms theholding element 1.

The holding element 1′ shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 differs from the holdingelement 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that its fixing element is a tubularplug-in receptacle or socket 8 into which a plug-in section of the metalframe F of the metal frame net can be plugged. In the embodiment shownin FIGS. 3 and 4, the plug-in socket 8 extends longitudinally throughthe holding element 1′. In all other respects the structure of FIGS. 3and 4 is the same as that in FIGS. 1 and 2, with functionally identicalparts bearing the same references plus primes.

The holding element 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 usually serves as shown inFIG. 5 as a lower holder, while the holding element 1′ shown in FIGS. 3and 4 usually serves as an upper holder for the corresponding sectionsof the metal frame F of the metal frame net.

The plastic material sold under the trade name Ultramid B3S has provento be a particularly suitable material for the holding elements 1 and 1′in the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 2, and 3 and 4,respectively.

1. In combination with a motor-vehicle covering of predeterminedthickness and a net frame element, a holding system comprising: an upperholder having a tubular body fitted through the covering, in which isreceived an end of the net-frame element, and having an outer portionformed with an annular outwardly projecting shoulder bearing inwardagainst an outer face of the covering and an inner portion formed as aclip spaced from the shoulder by a distance equal generally to thecovering thickness and bearing outward on an inner face of the covering;and a lower holder spaced from the upper body and having a body that isfitted through the covering and that has an outer portion formed with anannular outwardly projecting shoulder bearing inward against the outerface of the covering and carrying a laterally open eye in which the netframe element is elastically retained and an inner portion formed as aclip spaced from the respective shoulder by a distance equal generallyto the covering thickness and bearing outward on the inner face of thecovering.
 2. The holding system defined in claim 1 wherein each holderhas two such clips diametrically opposite each other and elasticallydeformable for movement between inner and outer positions.
 3. Theholding system defined in claim 1 wherein the eye has a laterally openmouth through which the frame element can be forced with temporaryelastic deformation of the eye.
 4. The holding system defined in claim 1wherein the holders are of an elastically deformable plastic.
 5. Theholding system defined in claim 1 wherein the holder with the tubularbody is above the other holder.